I’ve been glued to the television today – just as I was 10 years ago – remembering and reliving that horrible tragedy. I find it almost paralyzing and cannot leave the television for fear that I might miss something.
“BREAKING NEWS” “Two planes crashed into the towers of the World Trade Center” “U.S. Attacked” – All titles rolling over the television, interrupting the radio broadcasts. It was everywhere! I can still hear those voices when I close my eyes. The word “HERO” took on a whole new meaning that day.
I was not in New York City or Virginia that day. Nor did I have anyone that was directly affected by the tragedy of that horrific day. But I can tell you – as I’m sure it did for many – it rocked the very core of my existence!
There I sat, as I did any typical Tuesday morning. At that time I was working for a Recruitment firm in White Plains, New York (just north of NYC). We were an office of all women – there were 6 of us in total and we were all there that morning. I remember it clear – like it just happened. We were listening to the radio – 95.5 (Scott & Todd) when the broadcast was interrupted for what was thought to be a terrible accident. I emailed my brother-in-law who worked just 10 blocks from the Twin Towers at the time. I asked what happened. If he was ok. Could he see what happened. As we were communicating the second plane hit. Michael saw it hit from his office. All I could think was “GET OUT! COME HOME!” At that very moment all I wanted to do was to have EVERY member of my family together and placed in a bubble. I needed to know where everyone was, everyone was ok, and everyone was in my sight. I was – at that moment – paralyzed with fear. NEVER in our countries history have we ever had such a horrific attack on our soil.
The calls started – I called my husband first. At the time he worked for the county and no one was being released as a precaution. I knew where he was and he was “safe.” My grandmother, mother, brothers, and father were all “safe” in Albany. My mother & father-in-law were “safe” as well. My sister-in-law was 9 months pregnant, due any day, was home alone – I felt I needed to get to her and in terms of distance, I was the closest one. My brother-in-law was stuck in NYC and trying to get home.
We closed our office that day, as most of New York did. I got in my car and I said a prayer for everyone and anyone because for the first time in my life I was truly paralyzed with fear – fear of uncertainty – fear of the true fragility of life! I started driving to my sister-in-laws house but as I did I passed the craziest and scariest sights along the way. Turning out of our parking lot and heading to the highway I had to pass the United States Postal Service Distribution Center. Well their entrance was lined with armed guards – linked arm and arm with rifles, masks, helmets, etc. That sent a punch to my gut like nothing I had ever felt. I pushed forward. Now with my foot pressing a bit harder on the gas, because I really needed to get to Danielle and television to see what was happening to NYC – to our country. I typically took a shortcut to my sister-in-laws house – it knocked off about 10 minutes. Not that day. As I drove to the Kensico Reservoir, it too had armed guards. We were not allowed to cross. We were detoured back to the main road. I finally reached my sister-in-law and shortly after my father & mother-in-law joined us. We stayed on the phones with my husband and my brother-in-law. JD wanted updates and promised to head directly there as soon as he was released. Michael continued to stay in touch to let us know how he was doing getting out of NYC. Everything was shutting down – trains, subways – how was Michael going to get out!?? Leave it to Michael. 
He flagged down a cab and had the driver drive him north to Yonkers. My father-in-law met him in Yonkers and he was HOME!
For days after 9/11, I was still glued to the television, radio – any outlet that provided an update or information about what happened, what was next, and what WE were going to do as a country. I really had anxiety over this! True anxiety. I was having nightmares, crying every time I watched a news broadcast. It was terrible. JD had to ban me from watching anything related to the tragedy. Telling me that I needed to grieve for what happen and come to terms with it. He was right. I was feeling every emotion – (paralyzing) fear, grief, ANGER, and anxiety.
That day – that awful day – some good did happen though. We as a nation put every stupid “issue” aside and came together. We truly UNIFIED as a country against an evil like I’ve never known. We stood UNITED! PROUD to be Americans!! We all wanted to do better – BE better! It showed all of us just how fragile LIFE really is – that in a seconds notice – it’s GONE!
I often think about those poor, innocent children who tragically lost their parents. Now – as a mom – my oldest son has been seeing the news channels starting to show information, clips, and speaking about the upcoming 10 year anniversary of September 11, 2001. As any curious child would – he asks questions. I thought what do I say?! How can I explain something so tragic to someone so innocent without putting a fear in him?! That’s a hard-line to balance because as a parent you want to keep your children on alert – always. However you don’t want them constantly walking around in fear of what “may” be. So I explained it the best I could – using the best 
analogy I could – “The Grinch that Stole Christmas.”
I explained to D that on that day, September 11th 2001, a very mean man (Bin Laden) came and took something from us (USA). His hope in taking our things (Twin Towers, planes, a piece of the Pentagon, and all those people) was that he would make us cry and no longer celebrate how wonderful life is – just like the Grinch stole everything Christmas. BUT we (Americans) are much stronger than that and we went to those sites where he took our “stuff” and we sang. We sang LOUD and LONG and PROUD! And even though he took from us, we showed that we will still go on and celebrate. D’s question to me, ”by showing Bin Laden that he couldn’t stop us from celebrating, did we make him nicer?” My answer, “No D, unfortunately some people cannot be fixed.” What I wanted to say was, “No D, we made him disappear!”
So hold your family a little tighter tonight, KISS a little longer, and NEVER forget what happened that day!!
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Watch our Chief Creative Officer, Blythe Harris as she tells us why she LOVES the Waverly!
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Let the baking begin …
Are you one of the many that lack in the sleep department? If you don’t – good for YOU! If you do, it’s probably due to one of two reasons: (1) you have an active social life or (2) you have CHILDREN!
I haven’t written about her in over a month. Truth – it’s hard to put things into words a lot of the time. A friend’s father died last week and it just reminded me (again) how precious life is. I wasn’t able to bring myself to go to the wake/funeral, as I didn’t want to mourn my grandmother all over again – it felt too soon. I really felt selfish in my decision, but I didn’t want to make it about my pain.
